The Ultimate iPod Info Thread

Originally Posted by doug_999

Ok, need some advice.

The thought of tearing my car apart to put this thing in scares me - not that I couldn't do it, just that if I broke something I'd forever be ticked at myself for trying to save $180.

That said, my dealer just quoted
$350 for the part
$180 for the install (3 hours total, the last hour is recoding and BMW pays for that)
+ tax

Total $550ish

Thoughts?

Price seems high. You may want to shop around. I had it installed a few weeks ago and it cost $270 for the part and $100 for labor.

I'm with you though. It didn't make sense for me to try and do the install to save $100.

I just got the Ipod Adapter for my 2007 550i and I still can't believe I installed it myself in less than 30 minutes. I love it, works great. One advantage I had was that the car came in with the 6 CD changer when I picked it up in Munich (had not ordered or paid for it) so the wiring was pretty much all there.

Originally Posted by maggie2

I just got the Ipod Adapter for my 2007 550i and I still can't believe I installed it myself in less than 30 minutes. I love it, works great. One advantage I had was that the car came in with the 6 CD changer when I picked it up in Munich (had not ordered or paid for it) so the wiring was pretty much all there.

Does the kit come with something to cover up the whole left by the CD Changer?

Originally Posted by doug_999

Does the kit come with something to cover up the whole left by the CD Changer?

You can get the cover at the dealer. About $8.

I'm awaiting deliver of a 2007 550i. While on the phone with my dealer I was told that the 2007 550i has an iPod jack already built into it, in the back of the console. I was told this while asking what I needed to do to get an iPod jack installed.

Now when I read the threads in this forum I see that not only are people having the jack installed (in the 2007) but that it requires the removal of the CD changer.

Can anyone comment on this?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by FloridaBimmer

I'm awaiting deliver of a 2007 550i. While on the phone with my dealer I was told that the 2007 550i has an iPod jack already built into it, in the back of the console. I was told this while asking what I needed to do to get an iPod jack installed.

Now when I read the threads in this forum I see that not only are people having the jack installed (in the 2007) but that it requires the removal of the CD changer.

Can anyone comment on this?

Thanks.

The AUX jack is what your dealer is referring to. Not the iPOD MOST adapter. Two different things.

Help!

Today I had my 3/05 build date 545i upgraded to Progman 23. Dealer claims MP3 playability was selected.

This evening I installed the Ipod adaptor. When I connect my Ipod Nano, I get the BMW logo screen, but the CD1, CD2, etc. in the idrvie are not selectable (i.e., greyed out).

I re-installed my CD changer and it works fine. So that seems to rule out wiring problems.

My Ipod is a Nano with s/w version 1.2.

Any thoughts on what the problem could be? What is my next step?

Thanks!

Another question - does first generation v. second generation for the Nano matter?

Originally Posted by Cabrio330

Help!

Today I had my 3/05 build date 545i upgraded to Progman 23. Dealer claims MP3 playability was selected.

This evening I installed the Ipod adaptor. When I connect my Ipod Nano, I get the BMW logo screen, but the CD1, CD2, etc. in the idrvie are not selectable (i.e., greyed out).

I re-installed my CD changer and it works fine. So that seems to rule out wiring problems.

My Ipod is a Nano with s/w version 1.2.

Any thoughts on what the problem could be? What is my next step?

Thanks!

I bet you a dollar to a donut that you cannot play MP3s in the CD/DVD player in the dash. Please confirm. If your CD1-6 is greyed out, that means the iDrive does not understand MP3.

Don't think iPOD version matters. However firware 1.2 can mess up the shuffle feature but it would still work.

Originally Posted by eddieb3

Today I took the car to BMW and they did the install. Good news is it's all in and working. Bad news is I had to pay for it. But I wish I had waited and got more help from Veight (several postings above) because it looks like he had the same wiring scheme as I did and he figured it out. Looks like my assumption of no CD changer prep was wrong and I did have it - just didn't know it.

They charged me total labor of 3.5 hours to do it. 2 was for the recode and 1.5 was for the physical install. Three different dealers quoted me 2 hours for the recode, although it sounds like some here found it for less. I was told by 2 of the 3 dealers that they don't just add the module anymore but now "have to" upgrade everything to the latest and greatest. Not sure if that's fact, but that's what I was told. The adapter kit itself was $270 plus tax with the BMWCCA discount. For those of you who aren't sure if your car/build, etc. is compatible with this thing, they can immediately tell you yea or nay based on the last 6 digits of your VIN.

So I probably spent a couple hundred more than I should have if I would have figured out the install, but I'm glad it's finally in and done. Sounds great! Tomorrow I will play with it and get it all figured out!

Isn't the recode covered by BMW?

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I bet you a dollar to a donut that you cannot play MP3s in the CD/DVD player in the dash. Please confirm. If your CD1-6 is greyed out, that means the iDrive does not understand MP3.

Don't think iPOD version matters. However firware 1.2 can mess up the shuffle feature but it would still work.

You are right - I cannot play MP3s in either the in-dash CD or in-dash DVD players. I read elsewhere that if MP3 has been enabled, then I would have either been able to play the MP3s or I would have gotten an error message like "Cannot Read Medium" which would indicate I did not burn my CD correctly.

What I am still not clear about is whether having MP3 enabled is required to use the Ipod adaptor.

I guess my next step is to take the car and the Ipod adaptor to the dealer and tell them to install it and do whatever coding, etc. is required to get it to work. So frustrating though, because the physical install of the Ipod adaptor is so easy, and I really thought it would be plug-n-play.

Originally Posted by Cabrio330

You are right - I cannot play MP3s in either the in-dash CD or in-dash DVD players. I read elsewhere that if MP3 has been enabled, then I would have either been able to play the MP3s or I would have gotten an error message like "Cannot Read Medium" which would indicate I did not burn my CD correctly.

What I am still not clear about is whether having MP3 enabled is required to use the Ipod adaptor.

I guess my next step is to take the car and the Ipod adaptor to the dealer and tell them to install it and do whatever coding, etc. is required to get it to work. So frustrating though, because the physical install of the Ipod adaptor is so easy, and I really thought it would be plug-n-play.

Yes it is. Here is why. The MOST buss Adapter is nothing more than a CD changer to iPOD converter. When you plug in the iPOD, iDrive thinks the iPOD is a MP3 capable CD changer. BMW will be coming out with MP3 CD changers later and they should just plug and play provided the car understands MP3s.

The important thing to note about MP3 functionality. It is a retrofit. Simply updating code is not enough. The dealer must perform the retrofit above and beyond any coding.

Originally Posted by doug_999

Isn't the recode covered by BMW?

No. If you have the dealer do it you can be charged for a few things.

1. Labor for installation of parts
2. Labor to activate the CD changer menu if you are putting the adapter in a car that did not previously have a CD changer. This is to get the CD changer menus to show up.

The installation instructions state the car should be flashed (optional) with latest CIP however it is not required. When the dealer has your car, BMW is asking them to update the software anyway. I guess they sort of split the coding cost with you. Coding is typically 3 hours shop time.

The lucky folks already had a CD changer and just did the MP3 reptrofit free of charge unless they had a newer model with it alrwady working. And then installed the Adapter themselves. So parts cost only, no labor or coding. However, they did pay for a CD changer that they ultimately removed so I guess it is a wash. :sunno:

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Yes it is. Here is why. The MOST buss Adapter is nothing more than a CD changer to iPOD converter. When you plug in the iPOD, iDrive thinks the iPOD is a MP3 capable CD changer. BMW will be coming out with MP3 CD changers later and they should just plug and play provided the car understands MP3s.

The important thing to note about MP3 functionality. It is a retrofit. Simply updating code is not enough. The dealer must perform the retrofit above and beyond any coding.

I wish you could walk my dealer SA through the process! I feel like I am having to do that already, but of course I am armed with limited information. So I always wonder if I am helping or making matters worse!

The SA still claims he saw for himself that MP3 was "checked" when the tech did the Progman 23 update. I trust him - he is a great guy - but I worry that he and the tech don't really know that much.

So if I read your response correctly, I should tell them specifically to make sure they perform the "retrofit" - not just the Progman update with the box checked. Correct?

Originally Posted by Cabrio330

I wish you could walk my dealer SA through the process! I feel like I am having to do that already, but of course I am armed with limited information. So I always wonder if I am helping or making matters worse!

The SA still claims he saw for himself that MP3 was "checked" when the tech did the Progman 23 update. I trust him - he is a great guy - but I worry that he and the tech don't really know that much.

So if I read your response correctly, I should tell them specifically to make sure they perform the "retrofit" - not just the Progman update with the box checked. Correct?

Take him the CIP bulletin. I have attached it. Since you have 23, this is a simple activation process, not a recode. Frustrating I know, it took me three tries to get it working.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

No. If you have the dealer do it you can be charged for a few things.

1. Labor for installation of parts
2. Labor to activate the CD changer menu if you are putting the adapter in a car that did not previously have a CD changer. This is to get the CD changer menus to show up.

The installation instructions state the car should be flashed (optional) with latest CIP however it is not required. When the dealer has your car, BMW is asking them to update the software anyway. I guess they sort of split the coding cost with you. Coding is typically 3 hours shop time.

The lucky folks already had a CD changer and just did the MP3 reptrofit free of charge unless they had a newer model with it alrwady working. And then installed the Adapter themselves. So parts cost only, no labor or coding. However, they did pay for a CD changer that they ultimately removed so I guess it is a wash. :sunno:

Ok, so when my dealer says "we charge 3 hours to put it in, 2 for installation and 1 for recoding and BMW picks up the tab for the recoding" and my car already has Progman 22 and a CD changer, then all they will do is install the thing and no coding will be required - right? So... you are saying, quit being a wimp Doug, go buy the darn part and install it.

Right?

Originally Posted by doug_999

Ok, so when my dealer says "we charge 3 hours to put it in, 2 for installation and 1 for recoding and BMW picks up the tab for the recoding" and my car already has Progman 22 and a CD changer, then all they will do is install the thing and no coding will be required - right? So... you are saying, quit being a wimp Doug, go buy the darn part and install it.

Right?

As long as you can play MP3's with your in-dash Cd, and have a Cd changer already, yes it is a simple DIY.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

As long as you can play MP3's with your in-dash Cd, and have a Cd changer already, yes it is a simple DIY.

I can vouch for this being a simple DIY for the install. Mine is not working yet because my car did not have the correct Progman and/or because I do not have MP3 capability yet. But the physical install was very easy. You will need a Torx screwdriver - I think a #10 - to remove the CD changer. There is a great DIY on M5Board.com.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

As long as you can play MP3's with your in-dash Cd, and have a Cd changer already, yes it is a simple DIY.

Rock on - thanks Chuck! Veight, I'll be calling you shortly.

Got our '07 550i a couple of weeks ago - the aux input is on the face of the back console. (not very refined, also has the potential for the jack to get bent/broken by back seat passenges since my iPod Nano simply connects through a 2.5mm stereo (male - male) connector - should get right angled jacks, would limit the amout of protrusion). This simply allows the audio signal of the iPod to be the source for the AUX channel on the selector. Volume can now be controlled by both the iPod and the regular volume control. Track selection (playlists) are all controlled via the iPOD. The AUX input is not an iPOD interface, but just another audio input

Can anyone with the new ipod connector installed tell me if you're limited on the number of playlists to 30?

Originally Posted by max25

Can anyone with the new ipod connector installed tell me if you're limited on the number of playlists to 30?

From what I have read, you can have up to 250 folders with 500 songs in each. A playlist being a folder. I have not created 30 playlists yet so I can't answer questions. However, on CD6, which plays all songs, I noticed a lot of songs are cut off after 500.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

From what I have read, you can have up to 250 folders with 500 songs in each. A playlist being a folder. I have not created 30 playlists yet so I can't answer questions. However, on CD6, which plays all songs, I noticed a lot of songs are cut off after 500.

The 500 song per folder limit is only in cars with iDrive but without nav, according to the iPod interface manual.

And the 255 folder per directory limit presumable also applies to playlists (which are considered folders in this unit).

Is it possible to locate the ipod in the ceter console rather than the glove (inconvenient) box in an E60??

Sorry, that would be center console, not ceter!

On my 325, I routed the AUX cable to the coin thingy in the center console, and it is very convenient. Now I'm spoiled